HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY STATEMENT

MAINSTAY SAILING is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for employees, instructors and volunteers and to ensuring the safety of visitors and students. MAINSTAY SAILING will Take all reasonable measures to control hazards and prevent incidents or accidents that could result in personal injury or ill health. MAINSTAY SAILING will ensure its activities conform to relevant state and federal legislation and will consult with staff and students in the identification, assessment and control of hazards at the Mainstay Sailing.

Effective management of OHS risks depends on the commitment and co-operation of staff and students. MAINSTAY SAILING is committed to consulting with staff and students in a meaningful and effective manner on safety issues, enabling each person to contribute to decisions that may affect their health, safety and welfare.

MAINSTAY SAILING expects staff and students to comply with its occupational health and safety policies, procedures and guidelines, and to conduct themselves in a safe manner, not placing themselves or others at risk.  Instructors are responsible for the health and safety of volunteers and students working under their direction. MAINSTAY SAILING is also responsible for providing a safe and healthy environment for its visitors and members of the public who enter the Mainstay Sailing or are affected by its activities. Contractors working on MAINSTAY SAILING premises are also required to conduct their activities in a manner that ensures the safety, health and welfare of others.

Terence Smith

PRINCIPAL

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome to MainstaySailing accredited by the RYA and Australian Sailing.  Based at Airlie Beach we offer members of the public nationally and Internationally recognised training and qualifications.

We offer the following training courses:

RYA Practical courses:        
Start Yachting, Competent Crew, DaySkipper, Coastal Skipper, Yachtmaster offshore.

RYA Shore based courses:
Diesel Engine, Day Skipper Theory, Essential Navigation, Coastal Skipper Theory.

Australian /World Sailing Courses:
‍Sea Safety and Survival

ACMA Courses:
‍LROCP &SROCP Radio licences.

Australian VET Training:
‍All levels of First Aid, CPR, Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Oxygen Provision etc.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to deliver quality training in a safe and enjoyable manner. Follow our motto- “Fun,Professional, Adventure “

EMPLOYEES

Principal: Terence Smith

Head instructor: Terence Smith

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Staff Administration

EMPLOYMENT CRITERIA

Any instructor working at Mainstay Sailing must be currently Qualified to carry out he course being delivered Staff Qualifications

Staff Induction

It is the responsibility of the Director to ensure that someone is assigned who will be responsible for arranging the induction of a new employees. All new employees must participate in an induction program.

MAINSTAY SAILING must schedule all new employees to attend an induction on their first day of employment, nominating the area where the induction will be conducted, and ensuring all necessary resources are available (e.g. chairs, DVD player, overhead projector, refreshments, etc.).  

An appropriate amount of time and expenditure should be used to ensure that all of the required information is communicated to the new employee.

An induction must include familiarisation with OperatingProcedures, Workplace Health & Safety, the Safety Management System, duties to be undertaken, dealing with clients/customers, physical layout of the site, etc.  This will ensure that employees can work safely and represent the organisation effectively.

The induction program should be tailored to suit the needs of the employee(s) being inducted and provide the appropriate information tot he new employee(s).

A “mentor” should be assigned who will help support the new employee during the first two weeks of employment. The mentor should also give advice on matters arising, answer questions informally, give practical tips, introduce staff, and be involved in giving feedback.

The Principal is responsible for following up the employee’s induction during the first month of employment.

The new employee must sign the sheet in the Standard Operating Procedures once they have read and understood all the detail in that document.  

All new staff are inducted through the MAINSTAY SAILING Initial Safety Induction Training as outlined below:

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Staff Training

Staff are encouraged to detail any training requests in an email to Terence Smith. Any request for paid leave, unpaid leave or payment support will be considered on a case by case basis and staff will be informed by email of the outcome of their request. Any decision will be final.

Staff may be requested to undertake training at any time. Any support for this training will be detailed at the time of the request.

Staff terms and Conditions

All staff are employed on a casual basis and are given a schedule of work request a week before that employment commences. Staff should submit their hours within 24h of completing work on any given day recording the start and end times and what cost centre their wages should come out of.

Staff Qualifications

There will always be adequate supervision of all activities at all times by a person holding the relevant qualification. In the case of RYA Practical Courses this is a Yachtmaster Cruising Instructor certificate as a minimum with a valid first aid certificate.

In the case of Safety and Sea Survival courses, this is a Yachting Australia Safety and Sea Survival instructor qualification with valid First Aid.

Other courses will be led by suitably experienced and skilled instructors.

Each staff member has an associated staff file where details of their qualification and experience is recorded and maintained in head office.

Working with Children

See child protection policy

Student to Instructor Ratios

All training is carried out with the ratio’s as outlined by the RYA and AustralianSailing and ASQUA.

Our sailing vessel will operate with a ratio of one instructor to 5 students at a maximum.

Our Safety and Sea Survival Courses operate on a ratio of 1-20 in classroom sessions and a maximum of 1-10 in our flare and life-raft sessions.

Monitoring the Standard of Tuition

We pride ourselves on the quality of its teaching, great emphasis is placed on the quality of instruction given by any staff member. Staff will only be appointed where there is considerable evidence of a mastery of instructional standards and techniques.

The Principal will observe a taught lesson within a week of any newly appointed instructor. Where necessary, constructive advice may be offered to aid in any improvements that may be desired in that instructor’s performance.

During the normal course of business, it should be possible to visit each instructor at least annually whilst they are engaged in a teaching activity. Feedback will be examined and considered, and action will be taken if there is any indication that the standard of instruction is not in keeping with the values and goals of Mainstay Sailing.

Accidents and Incidents

Records of any incident, accident or near-miss are kept on the form in our forms repository. Wherever possible we use the standard MSQ form so as to avoid duplication., and a review of any incident or accident shall be conducted to prevent repetition.  In the case of a serious incident the Principal shall contact RYA/RA at the earliest opportunity and provide details.

In the case of a major Incident (such as a fatality) the Critical Incident Policy will be followed.

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DUTY OF CARE

Duty of care is a legal obligation imposed on an individual requiring that they take reasonable care (to themselves as well as others) while performing any acts that could impose foreseeable harm on others.  

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Any instructor who is working with persons under the age of 16 years old must ensure that they are accompanied by another adult or guardian. The instructor must hold a current and valid “Blue Card”

ANTI-DISCRIMINATIONPOLICY

 It is unlawful to discriminate on the basis of a number of protected attributes including age, disability, race, sex, intersex status, gender identity and sexual orientation. No discriminatory behaviour will be tolerated in our training environment.

HYGIENE AND INFECTION CONTROL POLICY

All current infection control regulations must be adhered to. All training materials and facilities (including the vessel) must be regularly sanitised and “COVID SAFE”procedures must be followed and contextualised to suit the environment. Pre-start screening must be carried out before students commence any face to face training.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Our cancellation policies differ for the different courses being offered, and are part of the on-line booking system, and are available on the website as well as being part of the enrolment forms.

OPERATING PROCEDURES

The training base is at Coral Sea Marina in Airlie Beach, Queensland 4802, Australia.

Training Area Map

Our normal operating and training area includes all areas on the chart below as well as any other area covered by our GBRMPA Permit Number G20/43207.1 valid to 30 June 2028.

During Coastal passages and Yachtmaster prep, we will extend our operating area to Mackay and Townsville.

This area is used for coastal passages and Yachtmaster prep courses, in which case the detailed passage plan with emergency information and ports of refuge are detailed by the student prior to departure.

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Booking Procedures and Enrolment

Bookings and enrolments are managed through our Revsport portal

Verifying suitability for a course

Each set of joining instructions contains the following statement and request:

Previous experience necessary: Please let us know as soon as possible if you do not have the required experience and we will arrange a more appropriate course or additional training before you take this course.

In addition to this, the instructor will check experience at the start of the course to ensure that all prerequisites are met and that disappointment cannot come late in the day by someone being ineligible for a certificate or assessment.

We will endeavour however to take all persons who would like to come on one of our courses. Where necessary, we will produce a bespoke Risk Assessment for any student that falls outside our normal operating parameters.

Clothing and Equipment

RYA Courses: Sufficient inflatable lifejackets must be available for all participants. All supplied lifejackets shall be either ISO, EN orAustralian Standard compliant and shall be in a serviceable condition.  All supplied lifejackets should be fitted with crotch or thigh straps.  

Safety and Sea Survival:

Health Declaration and Next of Kin

This is included in our Revsport portal. No student is allowed to commence training until the form has been filled in, and electronically signed.

Safety Briefings

These form part of the training, and are carried out prior to departing from the marina, or prior to spending a night on board in the marina. These must include all items on the safety briefing prompt sheet which is kept on board.

Environmental Issues affecting Training

Weather

If actual windspeed is consistently more than 40 knots no on water activity will take place, and training must be suspended if there is a strong wind warning.

Training Equipment and Craft

See Mohawk training manual, manual and SMS.

Life Jackets/Personal Flotation Devices

All students will be supplied with suitable lifejackets and instructed in their use.Wherever practicable, students will be instructed on the packing and checking of inflatable lifejackets at the start of the practical course, and effectively repack their lifejackets under supervision..

UV Protection and Footwear

Sunblock will be supplied and available on board at all times. Students are encouraged to wear suitable protective clothing and footwear.

Manual Handling and stowage of Training Equipment

Safe manual handling procedures must be employed wherever possible.

Maintaining a ships logbook

A suitable log is to be kept where all significant issues and events are recorded.

Vessel Maintenance and Fault Reporting

This is to be done on the ships logbook and followed up by the principal.

Maintenance schedules and tasks are recorded in the PM Schedule.

ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS and NEAR MISSES

Must be reported using the appropriate forms which are stored online and hard copies kept on board.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

There is an emergency procedure flip chart on board which covers most likely on-board emergencies.

Emergency Information:

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VMR Bowen

07 4786 1950

Call Sign: VMR 487

bowen@marinerescueqld.org.au

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VMR Mackay

 (07) 4955 5448

MF/HF: 4125, 6215

mackay@marinerescueqld.org.au

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Water Police

+61749677222

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VTS Hay Point

 +61 7 4944 3700

 vtshaypoint@msq.qld.gov.au

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Mackay Harbour Master

 +61 7 4944 3700

 mackaymarine@msq.qld.gov.au

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Regional Harbour  Master Abbot Point

+61 7 4421 8100

rhmtownsville@msq.qld.gov.au

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Bowen Marina

(07) 4786 4627

admin@bowenmarina.com.au

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VMR Whitsundays

 (07) 4946 7207

info@vmrwhitsundays.com.au

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Police Emergency Number 

(07) 4948 8888

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Location, access, and communication to Next of Kin details

This information is available on the student database in the office or accessed remotely via the internet.

A printed crew manifest (from Revsport) is kept on board with the emergency contact information.This information is also accessible from the on-line Revsport portal.

Action in the Event of an on-water emergency

Any on-water emergency or incident must be reported as soon as possible to the Principal /Chief instructor.

The escalation process on the on board emergency action cards must be followed.

First Aid Facilities and Procedures

Qualified 1stAid Personnel

Actions in the event of a Fire

Location of Nearest Medical Facilities

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SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION

MainstaySailing will strive to create a no blame culture and do everything reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of all persons.

Duty of Care

Duty of care is a legal obligation imposed on an individual requiring that they Take reasonable care (to themselves as well as others) while performing any acts that could impose foreseeable harm on others.

CONSUTATION

MainstaySailing will consult with all interested parties in the interests of safety…

SAFETYCHECKS

Safety checks on all vital equipment are to be undertaken as per the manufacturer’s instructions:

INDUCTIONTRAINING

Induction training is to incorporate the following items:

Read, understand and sign the operating procedures manual.

Please refer to the Induction training manual

All newInstructors or other staff members are to sign the bottom of the induction checklist

SUPERVISION OF ACTIVITIES

The Mainstay Sailing principal is ultimately responsible for ensuring the adequate supervision of all training activities…

HEALTH AND SAFETY RULES

• Housekeeping
• PPE use
• Maintenance procedures
• Accident reporting
• First Aid attention
• Fire prevention
• Electrical equipment
• Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs
• Horseplay & misuse of equipment
• Operating power -driven vessels

HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

 A Hazard is anything that can cause harm to people, property, or the environment

 MAINSTAY SAILING shall consider the following types of hazard:

• Biological
• Mechanical/electrical
• Psychological
• Physical
• Chemical

MAINSTAY SAILING may use the following techniques to identify hazards:

• Consultation
• Inspections and Hazard Surveys
• Examination of other relevant     information
• Injury/illness records
• Audits
• Incident/accident investigations
• Health & environment monitoring

• Complaints
• Observations

HAZARDS IDENTIFIED

See the Mainstay Sailing Hazard Register for hazards that have been identified:

If any new hazards are identified, you must fill in a hazard identification form for follow up.

RISK ASSESSMENT

The following matrix shall be used to prioritise the implementation of control measures.

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CONTROL MEASURES

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